The Bond of the Links

Chapter 8

When Ron had woken up enough to get all his senses active, the four opened their presents. Of all his presents, Harry liked Shalimar's the most. It was a wizard watch. Underneath the first surface was a face very much like the Weasleys' clock. He had to charm it so that it included the hands of everyone close to him.

'Your mother had bought it for you, intending to keep it until you were old enough to tell time,' Shalimar told him.

Harry stared at her. 'How did you get it? Sirius, I suppose?' She nodded. He muttered a choked thanks to her, before turning to the rest of his presents. Mrs. Weasley had sent him her usual package, with a jumper that had a cheetah's figure on it. He smiled.

He looked at Hermione who had just gasped at the present he had given her. Holding a beautiful silver chain with a semi precious stone for a pendant, she looked at Harry.

'It's an amulet; only it doesn't look like one,' he told her. She smiled at him.

'It's beautiful! Thanks!' she exclaimed, impulsively hugging him. Harry shrugged.

Shalimar rolled her eyes and muttered, 'For the smartest witch in the year, you sure are slow Hermione!' Harry went red, but Hermione just looked nonplussed. Ron shook his head, sniggering.

They went down to the Great Hall, Hermione putting the chain safely on her neck. Harry, for his part, wore his watch immediately. Entering the Great Hall, they saw that Dumbledore had once again used only one table for their meals; the House tables stood against the walls.

They listened to Dumbledore making his usual jokes while eating a hearty breakfast. Drinking his pumpkin juice, Harry looked around, his gaze falling on Malfoy, who was being unusually quiet. The Slytherin's face was downcast and looked different- almost pleasant- with the absence of his usual smirk.

Did I just think that this git is capable of looking pleasant?

Not wanting to be caught staring, he quickly looked away, just as Malfoy looked up.

Close call.

After breakfast, Harry, Hermione and Shalimar joined the Weasleys in a snowball fight. Soon, Ginny and Hermione were sitting on a bench, out of breath. Ron sided with the twins. Harry glanced at Shalimar, who looked as energetic as he felt. He caught her eye and winked. She smiled. She understood his wink all right. It said: Let's get them!

The 3 Weasleys played hard. So did Harry and Shalimar. But there was one difference. Both ran super fast. Being cheetahs in Animagus form, this was another attribute both had. Practically running faster than the speed of a bullet, if they chose to.

'Shalimar look out!' Harry called, seeing George fling a snowball at her. Unable to duck in time, she flung a hard kick at it, flattening it with the impact. Clumps of snow hit Harry on his cheeks, but it was better than having a large snowball flung at you. George stared at his mutilated snowball in disbelief, and got snowballed.

Even Ron couldn't help laughing as his brother sputtered. Soon they were all laughing on the cold ground. Suddenly, a large amount of ice was flung on Harry's back.

'Sirius! That's cold!' Harry exclaimed, throwing a large amount of snow straight at his laughing godfather. Sirius ducked just in time, causing the snow to fall on Hermione just as she was getting dried. With a screech, which reminded Harry of Hedwig, she flung a handful of it at Harry, who ran away from it. The snowball missed him by miles.

Exhausted, they went back into the warm castle. Sirius looked at his happy face and smiled.

'Like the watch, Harry? Your mum left it with me,' he told Harry.

'I love it. Thanks Sirius.' Sirius followed them to the common room, as no one else would be there. They went to change into drier clothes. Shalimar however, stayed behind to Sirius.

'Sirius, do you think we should tell him now? He seems pretty relaxed to me, and he'll be able to handle now. Quidditch has helped him relax too; I've been observing him during practice. The win against Hufflepuff lifted his spirits quite a bit,' she said, grinning.

'Hmm... how much has he progressed so far?' Sirius asked, looking thoughtful.

'Well...he has the qualities of a cheetah- feral eyes, good eyesight, super speed. I won't be surprised if his physical skills are the same. We haven't seen. Empathic powers- just a hint so far. Wandless Magic- no hints, but he is much more powerful than before- you know that. I think we should tell him and start his physical training at once. Self-defence. He's going to be surprised when he finds he can jump a ten-foot wall with ease,' Shalimar replied, her eyes twinkling.

'I trust your judgement. After all, you know what it feels like. I'll contact Dumbledore through the fire. You go and change. Keep the others upstairs. I don't want them hearing anything before we go to Dumbledore's office.'

Shalimar sprinted upstairs. She changed and went to the boys' dorms with Hermione and Ginny. They had finished changing. Ron was looking around for spare socks when the girls came in. Harry massaged his rumbling stomach. He was feeling extremely hungry; it was time for lunch.

'Hurry up Ron! I'm starving,' Harry moaned.

'Like I'm not! I can't find my socks!' Ron said, frantically looking through his trunk.

'Oh Ron! Summon them, you prat,' Harry retorted, rolling his eyes.

'Oh yeah! Am I dumb or what?' the redhead said.

'Probably "or what",' Shalimar deadpanned and ducked under the pillow he threw at her.

When Ron had finally found his socks, which had been hiding in the corner, under his Chudley Cannons hat, they went down to find an impatient Sirius.

'What took you so long? The twins have already gone down,' he said, frowning.

'Socks Crisis,' Ginny muttered. Sirius simply stared.

They reached the brilliantly decorated Great Hall and hungrily ate the delicious food. Fred and George were keeping everyone in stitches with their jokes and amusing antics. Harry and Hermione were talking quietly about their latest Transfiguration lesson. Ever since he had become an Animagus, his interest in it had increased, much to McGonagall's astonishment and delight.

'Well, Animagi may feel slight stiffness after each transformation, for the first week after they become Animagi,' Hermione was saying.

'No, it can last up to two weeks,' Harry corrected her.

'But-'

'Believe me- I speak from experience,' he said dryly. Hermione blushed. For once she couldn't argue.

Lunch passed pleasantly and later the twins went up to their dorms to work on their latest invention- Croak Cookies. Ginny was doing her History of Magic essay and Ron, Harry and Shalimar were working on their Palmistry essays, which were absolute rubbish, in Harry's opinion. Hermione was reading Arithmancy for Amateurs, having finished her homework the previous night.

A couple of hours later, they had finished their work. Harry and Ron were playing Wizards Chess again. Hermione was still reading, Ginny had dozed off, and Shalimar was staring into the fire. To be frank, she was worried about how Harry would take the news. He would be upset, definitely. But she felt guilty for suddenly throwing him all this. She had just waltzed into his life, leaving him to deal with all the changes he would face.

I only hope he understands. He does not need to deal with this. No fifteen-year-old kid should.

Because Sirius had been on the run until that very year, she had had no chance of being reunited with Harry, even with Dumbledore around. Harry had lived with the Dursleys; she had been with Sirius and Remus.

Bloody Voldemort.

She punched the sofa's arm in frustration and anger. Harry looked up in surprise.

'Shalimar, you okay?' he asked, his emerald eyes staring into her chocolate ones.

'Yeah I'm fine, I guess. It's nothing,' she replied hastily. He didn't really look convinced, but returned to his game. It was already 4 o' clock, and Shalimar was bored.

'Anyone up for a walk?' she asked, looking around hopefully. To her surprise, Hermione abandoned her book.

'Me. I'm feeling stiff. Let's go,' she said, following Shalimar out the portrait hole.

Ron cast Harry a bewildered glance. Harry shrugged. Don't ask me to figure that out, Ron. I'm not a girl.

By six o' clock, Harry had lost 4 games and Ginny was awake, watching them play. The other two hadn't returned, and the twins' dorms were noisy. The three in the common room finally abandoned their activities and went out in search of the two girls. They had just reached the Entrance Hall when the two entered, laughing.

'And what are you two laughing about?' Ron asked, eyeing them.

'Nothing. Shalimar was telling me about a trick Sirius that had played on Professor Lupin when they were young. He kept talking in limericks for the rest of the day,' Hermione answered, brushing her hair from her face. Harry looked at her, going red as he thought how cute she looked.

'Harry? Why are you so red?' Hermione asked. The other three snickered. Harry mumbled something about feeling hot. Hermione was staring at him as if he had lost his mind. 'Harry! It's winter.'

Shrugging, Harry went outside. They followed, guessing that he wanted to meet Hagrid.

Hagrid was out in the pumpkin patch, tending to some enormous pumpkins.

''ello there! Thought yeh had forgotten me, never visitin' me! Come on in, fer some cake them house-elves gave me.'

'So how's it being a cheetah, eh Harry? S'mazing, I s'ppose. I dunno. Here have a bit o' cake,' he said, smiling at Harry.

Everyone accepted the cake, it being prepared by the house-elves. Hermione had gotten over her campaign, (finally, in Harry's opinion) aware that house-elves were not brainwashed and made to do the housework.

By the time they left Hagrid's cabin, it was dinnertime and everyone was extremely hungry. Dinner was as delicious as a Christmas Dinner could be. For some reason, Shalimar couldn't eat much, however much Harry urged her. After dinner, Sirius beckoned to them.

'Harry, Professor Dumbledore would like to meet you in his office with Shalimar. Ron, Hermione and Ginny may come. I'm coming too. Let's go.

Standing in front of the stone gargoyle, Sirius muttered, 'Peppermint Sticks'.

Harry stifled a snicker. Where does the man get these passwords?

Dumbledore was waiting at his table.

'You wanted to see me Professor?' Harry asked.

'Yes Harry. The time has come to tell you something, that, by right, you should have known fifteen years ago. I am going to tell you everything now.' Dumbledore gestured to the two seats across the table.

'Sit Harry, Shalimar. I could tell it to you from the beginning, but it will confuse you. I'll start with the main point, and then give you explanations.' Shalimar stiffened.

'Harry, Shalimar is your sister.'